The Canawacta Rod and Gun Clubs annual fishing derby hosted 59 children along with parents, uncles, aunts, grandmothers, grandfathers and others. A sunny and very warm Saturday, July 14th saw the free fishing event run for several hours with children from 2 to 14 fishing, enjoying a light lunch and being awarded prizes.

Pictured are Children at the Canawacta Rod and Gun Club Fishing Derby (Photo by James Wood of Riverwood Studio)

The largest fish caught by the kids, out of the 1.3 acre pond, were a 29" pickerel, a 15" bass, a few perch and a large number of sunfish. All fish and turtles were measured by members of the club who acted as derby judges.

The club thanks Pa. Fish and Boat Commission Conservation Officer Chad McKenrick and Fish and Boat Commission Supervisor Bryan Bendock for coming to the event, meeting the children and helping out.

Fishing Derby organizers Ray Creeden, Charlie Callahan and Byron White thank all of the local merchants and businesses who donated gift certificates and prizes.

The free fishing derby was part of the Canawacta Club's community outreach to help more kids and adults enjoy and learn more about the great outdoors and our country's wildlife.

First Liberty Bank & Trust has made a pledge of $15,000 to the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association's New Building Campaign.

Pictured (l-r): Kim Harwood, Chair of the New Library campaign, Steve Stranburg, Manager of the Montrose office of 1st Liberty Bank, Bob Matley, President, Pennsylvania Region, 1st Liberty Bank, and Toby Anderson, President of the Board of the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association.

Bob Matley, President of First Liberty Bank & Trust, has presented a check for the initial installment to Toby Anderson, President of the Library Board. "It is a pleasure to support this worthwhile project. It will certainly enrich the quality of life in the community. A library is an educational lifeline for the residents of Susquehanna County. First Liberty is demonstrating its awareness of this, and its support for the residents of the community they serve, by helping make the urgently needed library building a reality," said Matley. The pledge from First Liberty Bank & Trust initiates Phase 2 of the building campaign. In Phase 1, $1.5 million has been realized.

Montrose, PA- The Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, headquartered in Union Dale, has established a permanent endowment with The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains. This endowment derives from an anonymous gift to provide a source of funding for the Council’s long-term management and maintenance of the D & H Rail-Trail in eastern Susquehanna County and for the Endless Mountains Trail in central Susquehanna County.

The Rail-Trail Council is a nonprofit organization that restores abandoned railroad beds for recreational use while recognizing the rich tradition that railroads have in our region. Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, states “we are very pleased to work with the Rail-Trail Council in helping to support their work to provide important recreational and historical activities in this area.” Lynn Conrad, Project Manager for the Rail-Trail Council, adds that “we must look to the future of our trails for the recreational needs of our community and feel that establishing this endowment will help secure the long-term survival of our organization and its trails.”

Friends and supporters of the Rail-Trail Council can make tax-deductible donations to the Council’s endowment and know that their contributions will be combined with others to enhance the support the Council receives to assist with its valuable work. Donations can be sent to The Rail-Trail Council Fund at The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, 270 Lake Avenue Montrose, PA 18801. For more information on this or other funds at The Community Foundation visit www.community-foundation.org. For more information about the Rail-Trail Council visit www.nepa-rail-trails.org.

Twenty-eight Veterans of the War of 1812 will be honored with their names enshrined on a memorial in the Old Cemetary (at 1:00 p.m.) on July 28 prior to the 25th annual meeting of the Brooklyn Historical Society, at the Township Building, 2:00 p.m.

“Stone Wall Building” will be the featured program for the meeting. It will be presented by Brooklyn resident Ken Ely and include such topics as the history and styles of stone walls in northeastern Pennsylvania, geology of the region, various functions of stone walls, and slides of old walls, fallen structures and new walls in various stages. In addition there will be displays of books and publications as well as a collection of stones for practice of techniques. The presentation is a program of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council supported in part by the National Endowments for the humanities.

Ken Ely, Stone Wall Expert

The Society’s president, Rev. Ralph Christianson notes that the program is particularly appropriate for the 25th annual meeting of the Society. First because so many homes and farms from the early times were surrounded by stone walls, and secondly because the 25th meeting of the Society coincides with the 225th year of the founding of Brooklyn (in 1787) as well as the 225th year of the U.S. Constitution.

Secretary Joan Kamansky add that copies of the annual report of the Society for 2012 will be available for non-members. The report includes pictures of gas wells drilled in the township of Brooklyn, as well as information on the sixteen 1812 veterans from Brooklyn in the Susquehanna County Militia and also twelve more who arrived later and are buried in the Old Cemetary. The names reminiscent of early settlers: Jesse Bagley, Thomas Bagley, Frederick Bailey, Gideon Beebe, Issac A. Chapman, Cyril Giddings, William Harkins, Eleazer Kimball, Josiah Lord Jr., Jonathon Miles, Thomas Oakley, Jesse Ross, Elisha Safford, and Noah Tiffany Jr. in the County Militia, and John Adams, William Ainey, Samuel Bissell, Powell G. Burch, B. T. Case, Erastus Caswell, Thomas Garland, Charles Gere, Elisha Lord, Josiah Lord, Joseph Peckham Jr., and Lebbins (Lebbeus) Rogers who arrived later.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With what seems to be an ongoing wave of news reports linking foodborne illness to fresh produce, many consumers are questioning whether it is worth the risk.

But Martin Bucknavage, extension food-safety specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, emphasizes that the benefits far outweigh the risks when it comes to consuming fresh fruits and vegetables.

According to Bucknavage, consumers should appreciate that they can take advantage of the wide selection of fresh produce available during the summer, instead of worrying about the remote possibility of foodborne illness.

"While there have been cases of illnesses reported from time to time that come as a result of contaminated produce," he said, "the risks are quite low when you consider the amount of produce consumed in the United States."

But it is important that consumers take specific steps to help ensure the safety of the produce they purchase, Bucknavage advised.

"Fruits and vegetables must always be washed before being sliced or eaten and must be refrigerated once they have been cut," he said.

Bucknavage also cautioned that certain items, such as cantaloupes, have surfaces that are more difficult to clean, so consumers must be particularly vigilant about washing them.

He explained that it is important to follow these precautions regardless of whether the produce is purchased from a large supermarket or a small farmer's market, but he emphasized that there are many advantages to buying food locally.

"Locally grown produce normally reaches the consumer within a day or so of when it is harvested, so it is fresher," he said. "And it also is harvested closer to the time it ripens, which often results in a better tasting, more nutritious product."

When shopping at farmer's markets, he encourages buyers to follow a few simple guidelines to ensure the safety of their purchases.

"Make sure that produce is fresh looking -- it should have proper color and firmness," Bucknavage said. "Also, avoid fruits and vegetables with decay or excessive bruising, regardless of the price. Damaged produce is more likely to harbor harmful bacteria."

Consumers need to learn about what is grown in their local area and the optimal time for harvest. "People should take advantage of all the different types of fruits and vegetables grown around them," he said. "It is fun to find new recipes that maximize the taste and healthfulness of those items."

Bucknavage noted that freezing and canning can preserve the local bounty for later use. "However, we should never purchase more than we can handle in a day or so," he said. "And it is important to use only approved procedures for canning and freezing, such as those listed on the USDA website."

Don't get discouraged with fresh produce, he urged.

"We get jaded by all the stories we hear on the news, but really, there is minimal risk," Bucknavage said. "Rather, I encourage folks to try all types of local fresh fruits and vegetables and not worry about the possibility of contracting foodborne illness."